Sunrise at Varanasi!
We were up at five this morning for a 530 bus call. We are on the bus in no time and ready for our next adventure here in the city of Varanasi. Would begin what seem to be a sleepy ride through the city street with people sleeping on the streets and in grassy areas anywhere.
All of a sudden street were completely blocked but thousands of people. They were parades and people drinking. People were walking in the street and sitting on floats dressed as the gods. Vendors with selling kewpie dolls and horn’s and things that we would sell at a parade. I have to check my watch to see the time and yes it was 530 in the morning. According to our guide this was left over partying from the night before . The closest thing I could come to what it might be equal to his Mardi Gras.
Finally we had to abandon us as we were unable to move any further into the crowd. We now were able to walk amongst the revelers and people are almost in the frenzy. It was scary and exciting at the same time. We kept walking until we reach the shores of the Ganges. It looked very different in the daytime. Much of the mystique had gone with the sunrise. Fortunately were there to see the most beautiful sunrise, as were thousands of other people.. We weave the way through the crowd and we were given some time to walk around on our own. This was really quite exciting. They were beggars in the streets. Mystics where there looking to give a blessing for a few Rupees. Children were there begging for money dressed in their finest cloths. There were men that wanted to shake your hand and when they did they begin to give you a massage and wanted money. We were warned ahead of time not to shake anybody’s hand. The color and the sounds were just intoxicated.
The group gathered together on the steps leading to the river where we were getting on our boat. Unfortunately they had not enough money yet to tuneup the engine and it was quite loud. We started out on the river in keeping in mind our experiences of the night before this was a very different experience . People were bathing in the river. They were drinking water and gathering it to bring to other people as we do holy water. They were people in boats selling religious articles. One of the things they were selling was a brass water holder that you could keep some water from the Ganges in it. I can’t remember the night before, I chose to buy one without the water in it.
As we went along the river banks, people were bathing everywhere. They believe by bathing in the Ganges that it takes their sins away. Most people were simply getting wet but many went underwater. I found it difficult at times to watch knowing what I have seen floating in the river the night before. There were men sifting sure the ashes of the cremation site looking to possibly find gold teeth or rings that may have been left on before the cremation. The cremation site itself was still smoldering and they were getting it ready for more cremations. It was much less to festive mood, people were there to be cleans the distance. It was just amazing.
Having seen enough, we boarded our bus back. All the people that of been in the street earlier we are now gone. I’m sure they needed some sleep. We are on the other hand, needed to get back to the hotel and get ready for a flight back to Delhi. Our adventure in India was coming to an end and now looking forward Nepal.
All of a sudden street were completely blocked but thousands of people. They were parades and people drinking. People were walking in the street and sitting on floats dressed as the gods. Vendors with selling kewpie dolls and horn’s and things that we would sell at a parade. I have to check my watch to see the time and yes it was 530 in the morning. According to our guide this was left over partying from the night before . The closest thing I could come to what it might be equal to his Mardi Gras.
Finally we had to abandon us as we were unable to move any further into the crowd. We now were able to walk amongst the revelers and people are almost in the frenzy. It was scary and exciting at the same time. We kept walking until we reach the shores of the Ganges. It looked very different in the daytime. Much of the mystique had gone with the sunrise. Fortunately were there to see the most beautiful sunrise, as were thousands of other people.. We weave the way through the crowd and we were given some time to walk around on our own. This was really quite exciting. They were beggars in the streets. Mystics where there looking to give a blessing for a few Rupees. Children were there begging for money dressed in their finest cloths. There were men that wanted to shake your hand and when they did they begin to give you a massage and wanted money. We were warned ahead of time not to shake anybody’s hand. The color and the sounds were just intoxicated.
The group gathered together on the steps leading to the river where we were getting on our boat. Unfortunately they had not enough money yet to tuneup the engine and it was quite loud. We started out on the river in keeping in mind our experiences of the night before this was a very different experience . People were bathing in the river. They were drinking water and gathering it to bring to other people as we do holy water. They were people in boats selling religious articles. One of the things they were selling was a brass water holder that you could keep some water from the Ganges in it. I can’t remember the night before, I chose to buy one without the water in it.
As we went along the river banks, people were bathing everywhere. They believe by bathing in the Ganges that it takes their sins away. Most people were simply getting wet but many went underwater. I found it difficult at times to watch knowing what I have seen floating in the river the night before. There were men sifting sure the ashes of the cremation site looking to possibly find gold teeth or rings that may have been left on before the cremation. The cremation site itself was still smoldering and they were getting it ready for more cremations. It was much less to festive mood, people were there to be cleans the distance. It was just amazing.
Having seen enough, we boarded our bus back. All the people that of been in the street earlier we are now gone. I’m sure they needed some sleep. We are on the other hand, needed to get back to the hotel and get ready for a flight back to Delhi. Our adventure in India was coming to an end and now looking forward Nepal.
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